Mike Hart

Educated at Edinburgh’s Royal High School but a few years younger than the ‘Royal High School Gang’ of Sandy Brown, Al Fairweather, Stan Greig, Bob Craig et al although much influenced by them. First with ‘Jimmy Gavin’s Gloryland Jazz Band’ on drums in about 1949, then drums with Sandy Brown JB 1950-52. Toured with Brown and Fairweather including concert in Albert Hall, London. Then Nat Service 1952-54. Formed own ‘Blue Blowers’ in 1954 playing banjo and jug. With ‘Charlie McNair JB’ on banjo and founder member of ‘Climax Jazz Band’ in 1956, then met with trombonist Archie Sinclair, recently returned from Canada, in Paddy’s Bar, and with Sinclair founded ‘Old Bailey and his Jazz Advocates’ in 1959. Left in 1965 to go to Mediterranean on Sabatical. Later founded and led ‘New Society Syncopators’, which later became ‘Scottish Society Syncopators’ before a return to the reformed ‘Old Bailey’s Jazz Advocates’ when Johnnie Harper went abroad in circa 1979. This band later amalgamated with the ‘Society Syncopators’ and became the ‘Scottish Jazz Advocates’. Reformed ‘Scottish Society Syncopators’ in 1975. Played at many jazz festivals in Europe, USA. Canada, Barbados etc including 10 consecutive years at Sacromento Jazz Jubilee. Toured Australia with ‘Climax Re-Union Band’ in 1992. Founded Edinburgh International Jazz Festival in 1979 and was still Festival Director in 2009. Awarded MBE in 1995 for services to jazz and eventually became the Founding Director and Hon. President of the Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival.